Tonga to seek EU budgetary support

Tonga is to seek bilateral meetings with European officials to see if it can gain increased budgetary support.

The African Caribbean and Pacific Council of Ministers is meeting in Vanuatu, and will meet with European Union officials tomorrow.

The CEO of Tonga's Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Tatafu Moeaki, says the current financial issues Europe is facing make the meeting all the more important.

He says Tonga has several development issues to discuss, including fisheries, and concluding an Economic Partnership Agreement.

"Even labour mobility are key issues. As you know, we have a lot of, not only Tonga, but those Pacific islands who are strong competitive rugby players, and some of which have benefited from some concessions to enter not only the UK, but key EU member states."

The CEO of Tonga's Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries, Tatafu Moeaki